Woman Embroidering
1855-1860
Long before Edgar Degas became famous for his pastel ballerinas and moody café scenes, he was mastering the art of quiet, everyday observation. In this early drawing from the late 1850s, a young woman in a ruffled bonnet is completely absorbed in her needlework, her face cast in a soft, contemplative shadow. The heavy, dark background makes her pale dress and focused expression pop off the page, showing us a glimpse of the artist's incredible skill with light and texture long before he fully embraced Impressionism.
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